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France

Bonjour Corsica! A Voyage on the MV La Belle des Océans

Program No. 24632RJ
Discover the beautiful island of Corsica on a journey that begins in Nice and sails along the iconic coast of the island during this Floating Campus onboard the MV La Belle des Océans!

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We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
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Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.

DATES & PRICES

Ship Outside Ship Balcony
Accommodation Details

A cabin with a window or porthole to view the outside.

Accommodation Details

A cabin featuring a verandah, or balcony, that allows you to step outside without going to a public deck.

Oct 1 - Oct 12, 2024
Ship Outside 7,999
Ship Balcony 10,499
Special Offer

Enroll by June 30, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities!

DATES & PRICES

Ship Outside
Accommodation Details

A cabin with a window or porthole to view the outside.

Filling Fast!
Oct 1 - Oct 12, 2024
Ship Outside 12,999
Special Offer

Enroll by June 30, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities!

At a Glance

The ancient Greeks referred to Corsica as “Kalliste,” or the “most beautiful” — but there’s so much more to Corsica than its breathtaking landscapes! Discover the art, culture, cuisine and history of this idyllic French island during a voyage onboard the MV La Belle des Océans, part of Road Scholar’s Floating Campus. We’ll have the ship to ourselves on this learning adventure that begins and ends in Nice, France, and allows you to explore Corsica from north to south. Delight in the historic landmarks and cultural gems of cities like Ajaccio, Bonaficio and Porto-Vecchio as your onboard instructors offer their insight into the region through onboard lectures, Q&A sessions and casual discussions. In true campus style, take part in onboard activities like a book club or photography instruction, and get to know other Road Scholars who share your love for learning and exploration.
Activity Level
Choose Your Pace
This program offers two activity levels to choose from on every departure date: one that has more walking and standing and one at a less active pace. Walking up to 2 miles per day over various types of terrain; walking up stairs unassisted, getting in and out of motor coaches.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Spend two nights in the beautiful city of Nice before your voyage begins to explore old town, Russian Church, flower market and much more.
  • Sail along the Gulf of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its dramatic red cliffs and natural beauty.
  • Explore the city of Ajaccio — once home to Napoleon Bonaparte — the historic streets and fortress of Bonaficio, and the impressive waterfront of Porto-Vecchio.
  • Enjoy the camaraderie of other Road Scholars as you take in private lectures, unique field trips and take part in educational onboard activities on this exclusive Floating Campus voyage.

General Notes

This learning adventure is part of Road Scholar’s Floating Campus. You’ll enjoy a true campus feel as we have the entire ship to ourselves and welcome a maximum of 150 Road Scholars, and enjoy field trips onshore in smaller groups of 30. Onboard experts will be on hand throughout the voyage and will offer instruction during exclusive lectures, Q&A sessions and discussions. Enjoy a book club, onboard activities, a live performance and the camaraderie that can only be found with an entire ship full of fellow Road Scholars! Please note that we need a minimum number of participants to enroll in this program to have exclusive use of the ship. In the unlikely event we do not meet the minimum number, then the cruise line may have its own passengers on the ship, though they will not be part of any Road Scholar activities.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Pardon My French, Unleash Your Inner Gaul
by Charles Timoney
A transplanted Englishman, Tomney reveals how to get by in French (and in France) through this wickedly funny A-to-Z of words and phrases.
Insight Guides; Explore Nice & the French Riviera
by Insight Guides
Explore Nice and the French Riviera is part of a new series and is the ideal pocket companion when discovering this colorful and glamorous part of southern France.
F is for France: A Curious Cabinet of French Wonders
by Piu Eatwell
An alphabetized catalogue of quirky French culture and history tidbits.
The House at Zaronza
by Vanessa Couchman
In a remote Corsican village, a bundle of hidden letters from the 1900s comes to light more than a hundred years later.
A Traveler's History of Cote D'Azur
by Arnold G. Danielson
This book begins with Cote d'Azur's early days and moves through to the present in a comprehensive, but concise, easily readable form. It should help travelers relate what they are seeing today to what it was before.
Eyewitness Top 10 Corsica (Pocket Travel Guide)
by DK Eyewitness
Planning is a breeze with the book's simple lists of ten, covering the very best that Corsica has to offer, this pocket-friendly format is light and easily portable.
Granite Island: Portrait of Corsica
by Dorothy Carrington
"Granite Island", much more than a travel book, grew out of years spent in Corsica and is an incomparably vivid and delightful portrait.
The French Riviera, A Cultural History
by Julian Hale
From Roman outpost to Napoleonic battleground and playground for the rich and famous, this marvelously informed cultural guide covers the place of the Riviera in history, literature, art, architecture and the imagination.
Napoleon: A Life
by Andrew Roberts
Andrew Roberts’s Napoleon is the first one-volume biography to take advantage of the recent publication of Napoleon’s thirty-three thousand letters, which radically transform our understanding of his character and motivation.
J'accuse
by Graham Greene
Nice has long been seen by some as a place with a different side to the sunny holiday vibe, a place full of organized crime and official corruption. This short book from 1982 denounces Nice’s corruption – it’s other title is Nice Côté Ombre (The Dark Side of Nice).
The Corsican Caper
by Peter Mayle
When billionaire Francis Reboul finds himself on the wrong side of a Russian tycoon, he’s fortunate to have vacationing friends Sam Levitt and Elena Morales on hand to help him out. This book is rich with clever twists and sparkling scenery as only Peter Mayle can write them.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.